Racing figures pulled by lines randomly wound on spools

ABSTRACT

A game comprising a box-like rectangular base divided into a top and a bottom portion which are capable of being connected together and in which top portion there is disposed a number of longitudinally extending grooves along which figures are arranged to move freely under the action of pull lines attached to the figures and to associated wind-up spools musted on a driven shaft extending transversally of the grooves. The shaft on which the wind-up spools are mounted is arranged to cooperate with a spring operated clutch mechanism which is operable to lock or to release the spools for rotation relative to the shaft, while switches actuating the shaft drive means are arranged to co-act with means extending in the path of the figures moving along their respective tracks, so that engagement of one of said figures with said means causes the shaft drive means to be deactivated thereby stopping rotation of the shaft and thus also movement of the figures.

Andersson 1 Jan. 15, 1974 RACING FIGURES PULLED BY LINES RANDOMLY WOUND ON SPOOLS Ernst Albin Andersson, Kopmansplan 9, Tumba, Sweden 22 Filed: Dec. 14, 1971 211 Appl.No.:207,934

[76] Inventor:

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 15, 1970 Sweden 16944/70 [52] US. Cl. 273/86 G [51] Int. Cl. A63f 9/14 [58] Field of Search 273/86 F, 86 G [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,510,995 10/1924 Lockyer 273/86 G 2,077,464 4/1937 Crowther 273/86 F FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 591,622 8/1947 Great Britain 273/86 G 17,213 1912 Great Britain 273/86 G Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle 1i namz Hammond and Littell 1 ABSTRACT A game comprising a box-like rectangular base divided into a top and a bottom portion which are capable of being connected together and in which top portion there is disposed a number of longitudinally extending grooves along which figures are arranged to move freely under the action of pull lines attached to the figures and to associated wind-up spools musted on a driven shaft extending transversally of the grooves. The shaft on which the wind-up spools are mounted is arranged to cooperate with a spring operated clutch mechanismwhich is operable to lock or to release the spools for rotation relative to the shaft, while switches actuating the shaft drive means are arranged to co-act with means extending in the path of the figures moving along their respective tracks, so that engagement of one of said figures with said means causes the shaft drive means to be deactivated thereby stopping rotation of the shaft and thus also movement of the figures.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures 1 RACING FIGURES PULLED BY LINES RANDOMLY WOUND ON SPOOLS The present invention relates to game, comprising a box-like, rectangular base which is divided into two detachably interconnected portions, namely a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion has disposed therein a number of longitudinally extending, mutually parallel lanes, while in each lane there is movably arranged a figure, such as a horse and rider, mounted on holder means. Attached to the holder means of respective figures is one end of a pull-line, the other end of which is secured to a wind-up spool mounted on a shaft which extends transversely of the lanes.

Thus, the present invention pertains to a game of the type which comprises a race track having a number of mutually parallel grooves extending in the longitudinal direction of the track. Arranged in preferably each of the grooves for free movement therealong is a figure mounted on holder means, the portion of the holder means located beneath the surface of the track being provided with means for attaching one end of a pull line, while at or in the vicinity of one short side of the track there is arranged a shaft which extends at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the track. Arranged on the shaft is a number of spools, each of which is connected to its respective one of the figures by attachment of the other end of the pull line thereto, the arrangement being such that rotation of the shaft causes each line at random to be wound around its associated spool so as to move the figures along their lanes.

The main object of the invention is to generally improve and to mechanically simplify known games of the above described type, while, at the same time, making the game interesting and exciting for both children and adults, by using simple means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a game of the aforedescribed type of such construction that while comprising but few components the game is both reliable in operation and capable of withstanding rough handling. 7

A further object of the invention is to construct the base in a manner to permit ready access to the mechanical components by means of a few simple movements of the hand, for servicing and maintenance purposes.

These objects are achieved by means of the present invention mainly by the fact that with the game of the aforedescribed type the driving source for the shaft supporting the spools comprises an electric motor arranged to rotate the shaft at a constant speed, and that arranged at one end of the track so as to extend transversally across the same and to a certain height thereabove is a plate or the like which is so movably arranged and of such construction that when engaged from the front, e.g. by one of the figures forming part of the game, breaks the current to the motor, causing the figures to stop, and when returned to the first mentioned position reenergizes the motor.

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, further features of the invention being disclosed in connection therewith.

in the drawing,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the game according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a section taken through the line ll II in FIG. 1, in larger scale,

FIG. 3 is a section taken through the line "I III in FIG. 1, in larger scale. 7

The drawing illustrates a box-like, rectangular game, generally indicated at 10, comprising two detachably interconnected portions, namely a bottom portion 11 and atop portion 12, this latter portion being provided with end pieces and side pieces. The portions 1 1, 12 are preferably made of a suitable, rigid plastics material. Disposed in the top portion 12 is a number of closed lanes or grooves 13, which extend in parallel spaced relationship in the longitudinal direction thereof. A shaft 14, which extends across the whole of the track, is rotatably mounted in the vicinity of one end thereof, close to the surface of the track, in a bracket structure 15. The shaft 14 is connected securely to a plate 16 having an extension in the transverse direction of the track such as to cross all the lanes 13. The plate 16 preferably extends vertically to a level which is slightly higher than the level of the side pieces of the top portion 12.

Also firmly connected to the shaft 14 is a first contact means 17, which is arranged to co act with a second contact means 18 securely mounted to an operating means 19 on the top portion 12.

The bottom portion 11 carries at one end thereof the mechanical components needed in order to operate the game, as hereinafter described. Between two bearing blocks 20 is rotatably journalled a drive shaft 21 which extends transversally across the bottom portion 11. Fixedly mounted on one end of the drive shaft 21 is a hubbed drive pulley 22, while loosely fitted to the other end of the shaft 21 is a hubbed disc 23. The shaft 21 also carries a pressure spring 24 which bears against the disc 23 and a hub 25 on the bearing block 20. In addition to these elements, there is also arranged between the pulley 22 and the disc 23 a number of spools 26 provided with flanged end pieces, the spools 26 being fitted loosely on the shaft 21 and preferably having a flat winding surface. The spring 24 is arranged to urge the disc 23 to the right as seen in FIG. 3, thereby pressing the spools into contract with one another. The disc 23 can be moved to the left in the Figure, by manipulating a lever 27 in the direction of the arrow A, thereby causing each spool 26 to be free for individual rotation on the drive shaft 21. The shaft 21 is driven by an electric motor M which is arranged to rotate the shaft at a constant speed and which is connected to the drive pulley 22 via suitable transmission means (not shown).

The cross-sectional configuration of the portion of the bottom portion 11 corresponding in both the longitudinal and transverse directions to the area of the top portion 12 covered by the lanes 13 is illustrated in FIG. 2. In the exemplary embodiment, the upper surface of the bottom portion 11 is located in the vicinity of the bottom surface of the top portion 12 and is provided with a number of relatively wide, longitudinally extending and mutually parallel running grooves 28, which are laterally defined by curved edge surfaces 29. When the top and bottom portions 11, 12 are assembled together, the lanes 13 in the top portion extend centrally above respective running grooves 28 in the bottom portion.

Each running groove 28 is arranged to carry a holder means 30 having the form of an inverted T, the horizontal member of the holder means being arranged to lie loosely against the groove 29. The vertical member of the holder means is arranged to extend to a certain height above respective lanes 13 and carries thereon a figure, which may for example be in the form of a horseand rider 31. Connected to the front portion of each holder means 30 in the slide portion of respective running grooves 28 is one end of a pull line 32, used to move the figures along the lanes, while the other end of the line is connected to a centre pin 33 of a corresponding windup spool 26.

In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the arrangement of the plate 16 is such that movement of the plate to a vertical position will cause the motor M to be energized over the contacts 16, 17, which are connected to the motor by known means (not shown). Since the spools 26 rotate together with the shaft 21, the various lines 32 are wound randomly onto corresponding spools, ie the length of line wound on each spool for each turn of the shaft 21 varies at random, and thereby theoretically the figures 31 will move at different speeds with each turn of the wind-up spool. When the first of the figures 31 reach the plate 16, which can be called the finishing tape, and hits the same, the shaft 14 is rotated in the direction of movement of the figures 31 and contact between the devices 16 and 17 is broken, therely breaking the current to the motor M and causing the figures to stop in the positions occupied thereby when the first figure caused the current to the motor M to be broken. Thus, the mutual position of each figure in the race can be clearly established.

As previously mentioned, the spools 26 can be declutched by moving the lever 27 in the direction of the arrow A, this condition being attained by moving the lever to the position marked with dotted lines in FIG. 1. The figures can now be moved, either separately or together, to the starting position, whereafter the lever 27 can be moved to its original position to enable a new game to be played, which is started by moving the plate 16 to a vertical position, thereby energizing the motor M.

The components located in the bottom portion can be reached for servicing and maintenance purpose by simply disconnecting the figures 31 from their respective holder means and lifting up the top portion 12.

1 claim:

l. A game comprising a base, a race track having a number of mutually parallel grooves extending in the longitudinal direction thereof, each of said grooves having arranged for free movement therealong a figure mounted on a support structure, the portion of said support structure located beneath the surface of the track having means for attaching one end of a pull line, a shaft arranged to be rotated by an electric motor at a constant speed, said shaft being mounted in the vicinity of one short side and extending at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the track, a plurality of spools carried on said shaft, each of said spools being separately connected to one of said figures by attachment of the other end of said pull line to said spool, and having an even circular-cylindrical winding surface for the respective pull line in order to cause the pull lines to be wound at random upon the corresponding spools when said shaft is rotated, whereby a random movement along said track is imparted to said figures, a finish plate arranged at one end of the track, near said shortside, and extending transversally across said track, said plate being pivotally arranged and of such construction that, when engaged and rocked by one of said figures, it breaks the current to the motor, causing all the figures to stop, and, when manually reset to its original upright position, it re-energizes the motor, a lever operable from outside and movable to and lockable in first and second distinct positions within a guide slot, said first position corresponding to locking of the spools mutually and to the shaft, and said second position corresponding to releasing of the spools from each other so that each spool can be rotated separately around the shaft, thereby enabling the figures to be moved to their starting position, a drive pully fixed to said shaft near one end thereof and coupled to said motor, said pulley serving as a first thrust surface for said plurality of spools, and a spring biased hubbed disc mounted on said shaft, near its opposite end, said disc serving as a second thrust surface for said plurality of spools and being displaceable along a portion of said shaft to positions corresponding to locking and releasing of the spools, respectively, when said lever is actuated to its first and second position, respectively. 

1. A game comprising a base, a race track having a number of mutually parallel grooves extending in the longitudinal direction thereof, each of said grooves having arranged for free movement therealong a figure mounted on a support structure, the portion of said support structure located beneath the surface of the track having means for attaching one end of a pull line, a shaft arranged to be rotated by an electric motor at a constant speed, said shaft being mounted in the vicinity of one short side and extending at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the track, a plurality of spools carried on said shaft, each of said spools being separately connected to one of said figures by attachment of the other end of said pull line to said spool, and having an even circular-cylindrical winding surface for the respective pull line in order to cause the pull lines to be wound at random upon the corresponding spools when said shaft is rotated, whereby a random movement along said track is imparted to said figures, a finish plate arranged at one end of the track, near said shortside, and extending transversally across said track, said plate being pivotally arranged and of such construction that, when engaged and rocked by one of said figures, it breaks the current to the motor, causing all the figures to stop, and, when manually reset to its original upright position, it re-energizes the motor, a lever operable from outside and movable to and lockable in first and second distinct positions within a guide slot, said first position correspoNding to locking of the spools mutually and to the shaft, and said second position corresponding to releasing of the spools from each other so that each spool can be rotated separately around the shaft, thereby enabling the figures to be moved to their starting position, a drive pully fixed to said shaft near one end thereof and coupled to said motor, said pulley serving as a first thrust surface for said plurality of spools, and a spring biased hubbed disc mounted on said shaft, near its opposite end, said disc serving as a second thrust surface for said plurality of spools and being displaceable along a portion of said shaft to positions corresponding to locking and releasing of the spools, respectively, when said lever is actuated to its first and second position, respectively. 